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The History Of Matt Tarpy
The Ryan Ranch Homestead
The beautiful stone building that houses Tarpy's Roadhouse was originally the Ryan Ranch family homestead. It dates back to
the early 1900's when Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ryan bought the 454 acres of rolling hills, meadows and neglected 20 acre
pear orchard then known as Saucito Ranch. In the spring of 1917, the Ryans moved their five children and possessions from
the San Joaquin Valley and began the long and arduous process of building Mr. Ryan's dream home.
The house took almost 10 years to build, as Charles Ryan built the stone house almost entirely on his own. The family lived in
tents the first summer, while they renovated the 65 year old frame house that already stood on the property. With the
temporary living quarters established, Mr. Ryan began the decade-long process of constructing the family homestead. Many,
many months of hard labor were spent cutting into the hill, filling and leveling the area where the house was to stand. Mr. Ryan
used the very stones which he dug out of the side of the hill to build the house of his dreams.
By November of 1919, concrete steps had been built down to the spring in the front of the house, but it wasn't until 1921 that
the actual construction of the house had begun. This was a monumental task for one man to accomplish, particularly because
no architectural plan was ever drawn. No designer nor engineer ever was consulted. The house evolved from the mind of the
man who had, for many years, imagined just what his home would look like.
By 1924, the dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms were close enough to being completed that the family was finally able
to move in. At this time, Ryan began construction on the westward portions of the building. Soon after, in 1926, the Ryans sold
450 acres of the ranch to T.A. Work. This land extended from the present day entrance to the Laguna Seca Golf Course and
York School to the the Moose Lodge on Canyon Del Rey. They retained only the four acres on which the house stood.
Work on the house continued sporadically, as the Ryans took to traveling for months at a time. Once the stone house was
completed, it served only a few years as the family home before it was sold to members of the Cademartori family in 1943.
The Ryans then moved to Salinas, although their hearts never left Monterey.
A new era began when the Cademartori's bought the Ryan Ranch homestead. The family moved their restaurant form Casa
Serrano in Monterey to the stone house where it enjoyed many years of popularity. The restaurant hit its' hey-day in the 40's
and 50's. The Cademartori family later sold out to Sal Cerrito who opened Villa Caruso and Chateau restaurants in
succession. Since then, the Ryan Ranch homestead has housed DeLuccaa's Old Stonehouse, Gregory's Stonehouse,
Monterey Peninsula Winery and, most recently Secrets. On May 25, 1992, after extensive renovations, Tony Tollner and Bill
Cox, owners of the Rio Grill in Carmel, opened Tarpy's Roadhouse. Executive Chef Michael Kimmel was also made a partner
in 1994. And the rest is history....
The beautiful stone building that houses Tarpy's Roadhouse was originally the Ryan Ranch family homestead. It dates back to
the early 1900's when Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ryan bought the 454 acres of rolling hills, meadows and neglected 20 acre
pear orchard then known as Saucito Ranch. In the spring of 1917, the Ryans moved their five children and possessions from
the San Joaquin Valley and began the long and arduous process of building Mr. Ryan's dream home.
The house took almost 10 years to build, as Charles Ryan built the stone house almost entirely on his own. The family lived in
tents the first summer, while they renovated the 65 year old frame house that already stood on the property. With the
temporary living quarters established, Mr. Ryan began the decade-long process of constructing the family homestead. Many,
many months of hard labor were spent cutting into the hill, filling and leveling the area where the house was to stand. Mr. Ryan
used the very stones which he dug out of the side of the hill to build the house of his dreams.
By November of 1919, concrete steps had been built down to the spring in the front of the house, but it wasn't until 1921 that
the actual construction of the house had begun. This was a monumental task for one man to accomplish, particularly because
no architectural plan was ever drawn. No designer nor engineer ever was consulted. The house evolved from the mind of the
man who had, for many years, imagined just what his home would look like.
By 1924, the dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms were close enough to being completed that the family was finally able
to move in. At this time, Ryan began construction on the westward portions of the building. Soon after, in 1926, the Ryans sold
450 acres of the ranch to T.A. Work. This land extended from the present day entrance to the Laguna Seca Golf Course and
York School to the the Moose Lodge on Canyon Del Rey. They retained only the four acres on which the house stood.
Work on the house continued sporadically, as the Ryans took to traveling for months at a time. Once the stone house was
completed, it served only a few years as the family home before it was sold to members of the Cademartori family in 1943.
The Ryans then moved to Salinas, although their hearts never left Monterey.
A new era began when the Cademartori's bought the Ryan Ranch homestead. The family moved their restaurant form Casa
Serrano in Monterey to the stone house where it enjoyed many years of popularity. The restaurant hit its' hey-day in the 40's
and 50's. The Cademartori family later sold out to Sal Cerrito who opened Villa Caruso and Chateau restaurants in
succession. Since then, the Ryan Ranch homestead has housed DeLuccaa's Old Stonehouse, Gregory's Stonehouse,
Monterey Peninsula Winery and, most recently Secrets. On May 25, 1992, after extensive renovations, Tony Tollner and Bill
Cox, owners of the Rio Grill in Carmel, opened Tarpy's Roadhouse. Executive Chef Michael Kimmel was also made a partner
in 1994. And the rest is history....
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